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Pigmentation Programme
A careful, step-by-step plan for clearer, more even skin.
Pigmentation shows up as brown patches, sun spots, freckles and uneven tone. It's caused by sun exposure, hormones, inflammation and ageing, and it often sits at different depths in the skin. Because pigment can be easily triggered, especially in melasma and darker skin, treating it well isn't about using the strongest laser. It's about preparing the skin, choosing the right moment and treating gently. Our Pigmentation Programme brings this together in one structured course, so you know exactly what's happening and when.
What's included
- A skin consultation with Observ skin analysis and photos
- 1 × HydraFacial to prepare your skin, which can be done on the same day as your consultation
- 6 × PicoSure Pro laser sessions
- Progress reviews with Observ photos, and a personalised medical-grade skincare plan, including pigment-blocking skincare
If your pigmentation has a redness or vascular component, DermaV vascular laser sessions may be added to your plan.
At a glance
Sessions: 6 PicoSure Pro sessions, around four weeks apart
Cost: Price on application
Before we start: making sure your skin is ready
Calming the pigment with medical-grade skincare
For many people, the first step is not laser at all. Pigment-blocking medical-grade skincare reduces the activity of the cells that make pigment, so your skin is calmer and more stable before laser begins. This lowers the risk of pigment returning or darkening after treatment, particularly in melasma and darker skin. You may need to use your skincare for several weeks before your first laser session, and we'll tell you when your skin is ready.
If you have melasma
Melasma is a hormone-driven pigmentation that appears as patches, often on the cheeks, forehead and upper lip. It is one of the hardest types of pigmentation to treat, because heat, sun, hormones and even inflammation from treatment can make it darker. For melasma, medical-grade pigment-blocking skincare is always the foundation of treatment, and laser is only added once the melasma is stable, using gentle, low-energy settings. Some melasma is better managed with skincare alone, and we'll be honest with you if that's the case.
Waiting for unstable pigmentation to settle
Laser is avoided while pigmentation is unstable, for example when melasma is actively spreading or darkening, or during hormonal changes such as pregnancy, recently starting or stopping the contraceptive pill, or HRT. Treating at this stage can make pigmentation worse. If this applies to you, we'll start with skincare and begin your laser course once your skin has settled.
How each treatment helps
HydraFacial
Preparing your skin
We start with a gentle HydraFacial to cleanse, hydrate and calm your skin before your laser course begins. Well-prepared skin responds better to treatment, and before every laser session we thoroughly cleanse the skin, as oil and product on the surface can interfere with how laser energy is absorbed. It's comfortable, has no downtime, and can be done straight after your consultation.
What to expect: A cool, gentle suction feeling. Skin may look slightly flushed for a few hours, then fresher and more hydrated.
PicoSure Pro
Our first choice for pigmentation
PicoSure Pro is our first-choice laser for pigmentation. It delivers energy in ultra-short picosecond pulses, a trillionth of a second long, which break pigment into tiny particles that your body then clears naturally. Because it relies on speed rather than heat, it is highly targeted and treats both superficial and deeper pigment while keeping heat in the surrounding skin low. This is where laser adds what skincare can't: skincare works on the surface layers, while laser can reach deeper pigment that skincare alone doesn't get to. That makes it suitable for all skin types, and for sun spots and melasma when the skin has been properly prepared.
What to expect: A warm, snapping feeling during treatment. Redness for a few hours. It's normal for treated pigment to look darker for about a week as it comes to the surface of the skin, before it flakes away. Most people return to normal activities the same day.
DermaV
Treating the redness behind pigmentation
Some pigmentation, particularly melasma, has a vascular component, where small blood vessels feed the pigment and make it more persistent. Your Observ analysis shows whether this is the case. If it is, we may layer DermaV vascular laser sessions into your programme to reduce this redness, which helps your pigment results last.
How the programme works
- Consultation and Observ analysis. We assess your skin with our Observ camera, which shows the depth and extent of your pigment and any redness beneath the surface. We take photos to track your progress, check that every mark you'd like treated is suitable for laser (any mole or mark that looks unusual or has changed will be referred for a medical check first), and talk through your sun exposure, hormones, any medication you're taking and your goals. If the programme isn't right for you, we'll tell you.
- Preparing your skin. Your HydraFacial preps the skin, and you start your medical-grade skincare plan. If your pigment needs calming first, you'll use your skincare for several weeks before laser begins.
- Your laser course. Six sessions of PicoSure Pro, spaced around four weeks apart, with DermaV layered in if needed.
- Treatment and reviews. We compare your Observ photos as you go and adjust your plan if your skin needs it.
- Aftercare. You'll get written aftercare advice for each treatment. Daily, high-factor SPF is essential throughout and after your programme, as sun exposure is the most common reason pigment returns.
Your programme, in plain English
- Cancelling: cancel within 30 days for a refund, minus the standard price of any treatments you've already had.
- Pausing: if you're unwell or away, or your pigmentation needs time to settle, you can pause your programme for up to 3 months.
- Medical reasons: if we advise that treatment isn't suitable for you for medical reasons, we'll pause or end your programme at no cost.
Pigmentation Programme
Price on application
Your price is confirmed at your consultation.
Who it's for
The programme is designed for adults with sun spots, age spots, uneven skin tone, post-inflammatory pigmentation and stable melasma. It is suitable for all skin types, with settings and preparation tailored to your skin.
Laser is not carried out on:
- any mole or mark that looks unusual or has recently changed, until it has been checked
- unstable or actively spreading melasma or pigmentation
- areas of active acne, broken skin, infection or active cold sores
- recently tanned skin, including fake tan
- skin affected by recent use of isotretinoin (Roaccutane) or some other medications that make the skin more sensitive to light
The programme isn't suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding. If you have active acne, we may suggest our Active Acne Programme first. We'll check all of this at your consultation.
Honest expectations
Pigmentation can be significantly improved, but it can always return. Everyone's skin responds differently, and change happens gradually. Some pigment, particularly melasma, is a long-term condition that can be controlled but not cured, and it may need ongoing skincare and occasional top-up sessions. Any laser can sometimes cause temporary darkening of pigment, especially in darker skin, which is why we prepare your skin carefully and treat gently. Many people see clearer, more even skin over the course of the programme. Your daily SPF and medical-grade skincare matter as much as the treatments themselves.
A note on melasma
Melasma is a long-term condition. It can be controlled, but it can't be cured, and it often returns, particularly with sun exposure, heat, pregnancy or hormonal changes. Laser can help lighten melasma, but if it is used too early or too strongly it can make melasma worse. That's why we always start with pigment-blocking skincare, only treat stable melasma, and use gentle settings. Long-term skincare and daily SPF are essential to keep melasma under control, and we may recommend fewer laser sessions, or none at all, if your skin responds better to skincare alone.
Ready to start?
Book a skin consultation and we'll tell you honestly whether the Pigmentation Programme is the right fit for your skin.
All treatments are subject to a consultation. Results vary from person to person.
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